Garland sharp as White Sox down Tigers

Jon Garland pitched seven superb innings as the White Sox posted
a 3-1 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday.

Rookie Josh Fields hit his 18th homer and Alex Cintron drilled
his first homer in almost a year for Chicago, which has won two
straight after losing 18 of its last 22 games.

The White Sox (59-79), who have never finished last in the
American League Central, currently reside there - three games
behind the fourth-place Kansas City Royals (62-76).

However, Chicago has had Detroit's number in 2007, winning nine
of 13 - including five straight and six of seven.

The Tigers (73-65) have lost two straight and five of seven to
fall 6 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cleveland Indians
(79-58), winners of nine of their last 10 games. Cleveland is
playing the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.

"We just have had bad combo's of late," Tigers manager Jim
Leyland said. "Either we give up a bunch of runs and don't
score or we don't give up and and can't score. It's a catch-22"

Garland (9-10) was excellent, allowing a run and seven hits
while striking out four. It should not come as any surprise for
the righthander, who now is 9-1 in his career at Comerica Park,
including seven consecutive victories here in his last 10
starts.

"I don't know if I'm comfortable here or it's just a mental
thing," Garland said. "But I sure do well here. I wish I could
pitch here every night."

The eight-year veteran was cruising through 5 1/3 innings before
surrendering three straight base hits to Omar Infante, Magglio
Ordonez and Carlos Guillen for the Tigers' only run of the game.
However, Garland got Ivan Rodriguez to foul out before fanning
Marcus Thames to end the threat.

"I felt real good," Garland said. "I was pitching to contact
early and getting the guys in the game. Driving the ball into
the zone. I was more aggressive than I have been of late."

Overall, Garland is 13-6 in 24 career starts vs. Detroit,
including 8-2 over his last 11 outings.

Rookie Ehren Wassermann and Matt Thornton combined to pitch the
eighth inning before closer Bobby Jenks worked out of a jam in
the ninth, getting Curtis Granderson to strike out with runners
on second and third to record his 37th save in 42 opportunities.

With no score in the top of the third, Fields came to the plate
with two outs and promptly hammered the first pitch he saw from
Jeremy Bonderman over the wall in center to give Chicago a 1-0
lead. It was the fifth homer for the rookie against the Tigers
in 2007.

"It's always tough against all Detroit pitchers," Fields said.
"You just have to make sure you're swinging at strikes against
them."

With the same score in the sixth, Paul Konerko led off with a
single. Two batters later, Cintron lined a 3-1 slider off
Bonderman just over the wall in right field to give the White
Sox a three-run advantage.

It was Cintron's first homer since September 8 vs. the Cleveland
Indians and just his sixth in the last two seasons.

"I just wanted to get a good swing," Cintron said. "It was my
first home run of the year and it sure came at a good time."

Bonderman (11-8), who was immediately replaced on the mound by
Zach Minor, allowed three runs, seven hits and two walks in 5
1/3 innings.

"I threw the ball well tonight," Bonderman said. "I only had
two bad pitches. I was able to pound the zone and not fall
behind the hitters. "We need to find a way to win. If we don't
there is no one to blame but ourselves."

After starting 2007, 8-0, the righthander has dropped seven of
his last eight decisions.